President Obama petitioned by atheist to not say ‘So help me God’ during inauguration
President Barack Obama will be taking the oath of office for the second time on January 21, 2013 and atheists want him to do so without mentioning “God” and without a Bible.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent Obama a letter following his re-election, asking him to reject the way “this country politicizes religion.”
“When you stand to reaffirm your oath, do so using the language of the Founders. Eliminate the religious verbiage. While you’re at it, why not place your hand on the Constitution instead of a bible?” FFRF attorney Andrew L. Seidel wrote in the letter.
The organization contend that the phrase “so help me God” are not included in the oath as prescribed by the Constitution. The Constitution also does not require the president to place his hand on a Bible when taking oath, FFRF adds.
When Obama took office in 2009, he repeated after Justice John Roberts: “I, Barack Hussein Obama do solemnly swear that I will execute the Office of President of the United States faithfully and will to the best of my ability preserve, protect and defend the Constitution of the United States, so help me God.”
FFRF argues that “so help me God” violates the Constitution as it alienates the nonreligious, which the organization believes is the future of America.